China Trip

Number of Chinese Tourists in Thailand Likely to Rise by 20 Pct This Year
The number of Chinese tourists in Thailand is expected to increase by 20 percent this year, earning the country around 20 billion baht(454 million U.S.dollars)in revenue, according to a report of the Thai Farmers Research Center(TFRC) available in Bangkok recently`.

The leading think tank said in the report that China is regarded as a potential tourism destination because it is a big market with expected rapid growth.

The Chinese economy has expanded significantly against the globa

Chinese Highway in Guizhou Province Included In Guinness Book
A highway in Guizhou Province, southwest China, was recognized recently as the road with the most bridges in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records.

There are 151 bridges on the 179-km Guiyang-Bijie highway in the province, nearly one bridge per km.

The Shanghai branch of the Guinness Book of World Records issued a certificate to that effect recently to the operator of the highway.

The rugged terrain on the Guizhou Plateau made so may bridges essential.

The L

China, Norway Jointly Build Eco-Museums in Guizhou Province
China and Norway signed an agreement recently to launch the third-phase construction of an eco-museum project in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

The project is composed of two ecological museums representing respectively the cultures of the Han and Dong ethnic groups in Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).

Initiated in 1997, the project is co-sponsored by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Guizhou provincial government. It is jointly developed by the Chinese

Beijing on rapid development track
Beijing's social development ranked top among the key cities around China in 2001, according to a report from the capital city's municipal statistics bureau.

Bureau director Liu Jigang said that Beijing's social development comprehensive index, a focal indicator for economic progress, recorded 154.83 points last year, up 9 per cent by the previous year and 76 per cent higher than the country's average level.

Experts attribute it to the growth of fixed assets investment and consumpt

Key Airport Expects Surge of Passengers During Peak Holiday Season
Over 40,000 passengers are expected at the Baiyun International Airport on Monday, the first day of this year's 40-day spring holiday peak season, said an airport source in the capital of south China's Guangdong province on Sunday.

A key airport in south China, the Baiyun Airport had already served over 40,000 passengers on Sunday, with over 390 flights taking off and landing, said the source, who expected passenger flow to "continue to rise" in the coming days.

To meet passenger d

Safe Travel Forecast for Spring Festival
China's Economic and Trade Commission, jointly with the railway, road, air and other authorities concerned, held a national tele-conference to arrange this year's Spring Festival peak transportation work in Beijing.

During the coming 40-day period around the traditional Spring Festival holidays -- from January 28 to March 8 -- transportation departments will see a total passenger flow of 1.74 billion.

Vice-Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun said that the transportation volume this yea

Plans on track for rail travel peaks
China's railway organizations are putting on extra trains to cope with the predicted three travel peaks during this year's Spring Festival period.

The Ministry of Railways said this year's Spring Festival travel period lasts 40 days, from January 28 to March 8. The Lunar New Year falls on February 12 this year.

Wu Qiang, a senior ministry official, said the first peak in passenger numbers will take place around February 7 to 9, involving with between 3.5 million and 3.6 million peo

Railway price rises unveiled
The rise in railway ticket prices over Spring Festival was announced on Sunday - ending a process which has been dogged by controversy.

Officials at the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) said the prices were tailored to meet people's purchasing power and would not hit those on low incomes hardest in the pocket.

The masses were given a say in the pricing strategy for the State-run railways at a public hearing held earlier this month.

The Ministry of Railways has be

Bodga Peak Challenges Real Mountaineers
If you have the energy, the motivation, the interest and, most important of all, the experience to make it up a lofty mountaintop, then Bogda Peak is the place for you. Vertical limitation Bogda Peak is the highest peak of the heavily glaciated Bogda Mountain massif, a northeast extension of the Tianshan Mountains in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The Bogda Mountains, 150 miles long and averaging 13,000 feet in elevation, culminate in a lofty 2-mile ridge topped by several p

Huangshan, A Mountain in Winter
Our 13-hour train journey had ended only a few hours before. But despite a lack of sleep - and a breakfast of watery gruel that would have left Oliver Twist unable to face the day ahead - we stood at the base of Anhui's Huangshan (Yellow) Mountains feeling appropriately intrepid. According to proverb, after seeing these mist-shrouded peaks "blooming like lotus flowers," in the words of Tang poet Li Bai, we would never need to see another mountain. We had decided to ascend by the shorter East Ste

Millions of Travelers on Road for Holiday
The world's largest population has been on the move since Monday as millions of travelers wait the traditional Chinese family reunion season. This year's Spring Festival travel period lasts 40 days, from January 28 to March 8. A total of 1.74 billion travels by passengers taking various forms of public transport are predicted, about 100 million more than last year. Wu Qiang, a senior official with the Ministry of Railways, said the first peak will fall on February 7-9, and involve about 3.6 mill

China's Reform Pioneer City to Expand Tourism
Shenzhen, China's first special economic zone designed to pilot the country's reform and opening-up drive, will pour five billion yuan (about US$ 602 million) into building a number of new tourist facilities during the 2001-2005 period. Chi Xiongbiao, director of Shenzhen City Tourism Administration,explained that the decision was made to improve the city's tourist appeal. Tourism fixed assets in the city have now reached 20 billion yuan (about US$ 2.41 billion). And the tourism industry contrib

Workers' Dilemma: Go Home for the Holidays or Stay
Millions on Road for the Holiday The world's largest population has been on the move since Monday as millions of travelers await the traditional Chinese family reunion season. This year's Spring Festival travel period lasts 40 days, from January 28 to March 8. A total of 1.74 billion travels by passengers taking various forms of public transport are predicted, about 100 million more than last year. Wu Qiang, a senior official with the Ministry of Railways, said the first peak will fall on Februa

WB Issues Loans for Rails in West
The World Bank (WB) announced yesterday that it had approved a US$160 million loan to fund railway upgrades in northwest China and reform the country's railway sector. The money will pay for the double-line and upgrading of the railway corridor between Baoji, Shaanxi Province, and Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province. It will also support the reform programme of China's Ministry of Railways, according to a WB news release. The project will help the Ministry of Railways pursue key institutional ref

Workers?Dilemma: Go Home for the Holidays or Stay
Millions on Road for the Holiday Migrant Workers Returning Home Incredible Journey Planned to Reach Loved Ones Festive Reunions Not for Everyone Millions on Road for the Holiday The world's largest population has been on the move since Monday as millions of travelers await the traditional Chinese family reunion season. This year's Spring Festival travel period lasts 40 days, from January 28 to March 8. A total of 1.74 billion travels by passengers taking various forms of public transport are pre

China Adopts New Policy for Faster Growth of Service Industry
The State Development Planning Commission has decided to take new measures to push ahead with the development of the service trade during China's 10th five-year plan period (from 2001 to 2005).

The measures include a gradual opening up of various service sectors, such as banking, foreign trade, tourism, telecommunications, insurance and medical treatment, to overseas investors.

Private investors are also encouraged in all the sectors that are open to foreign investors.

One m

Xinjiang Determined to Recover Ecological Balance
In recent years the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China has stepped up its efforts to restore and protect the ecological balance of its local environment.

In a major step the central and local governments between 2002 and 2015 will jointly spend 4 billion yuan (some 480 million U.S. dollars) to halt soil erosion on both sides of the Tianshan Mountains, according to sources with the regional water resources administration.

Previously, the State Council decided to spe

Inner Mongolia Crucial for Beijing's "Green Olympics"
The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China plans to build an ecological defense line and a major clean energy base within the next five years to help Beijing host the "Green Olympics" in 2008.

Known as Beijing's "Ecological Backyard", the autonomous region for many years has suffered from excessive desertification which often causes spring and summer sand storms in Beijing.

According to a local forestry official Gao Xilin, a 4,000-kilometer ecological front, the longest of

Sichuan Province to Improve Tourism Resort Infrastructure
Southwest China's Sichuan Province is planning to rebuild 1,500 kilometers of roads leading to and from tourism resorts in ethnic-minority regions, as part of a drive to improve the province's infrastructure for tourism, according to local sources recently.

The province will upgrade communications and energy facilities within and around its resorts. Developing new sites and upgrading current sites are also on the schedule.

The construction of airports in leading scenic spots will b

International Contenders for Tourism Programs in Chengdu
More than 300 overseas investors gathered in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province recently at a bidding fair at which 100 tourism projects are on offer, involving a total of US$ 560 million.

According to sources, 60 of the 100 projects involve developing scenic sites, most of which are of high potential; the other 40 involve infrastructure and reception facilities.

The majority of the overseas investors are from the United States, France and Japan, with 70 from Hong Kong, Macao and

Traces of Bengal Tigers Found in Yunnan Province
Traces of the Bengal tiger, one of the most endangered animal species in the world, have been found in virgin forest in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Chinese scientists have estimated the presence of from five to seven Bengal tigers in an investigative report.

The elusive tigers appear to be moving around the Nangun River Nature Reserve in the Va Autonomous County of Cangyuan in Yunnan Province.

According to a survey conducted by staff at the Nangun River Nature Reserve

Visa-Free Access for HKSAR Passport Holders to Monaco Confirmed
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced recently that confirmation was received from the Consulate General of France that visa-free access has been granted to HKSAR passport holders for visits up to three months to Monaco by virtue of the Convention on Good Neighborhood between Monaco and France.

"We warmly welcome this confirmation by the Consulate General of France," the spokesman said. Currently, nationals of Monaco can visit Hong Kong v

Hong Kong visitor arrivals rise despite post-September 11 fears
Visitor arrivals in 2001 rose by 5.1 percent year-on-year to a record 13.7 million, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said on Monday.

A downturn in arrivals from North America after the September 11 terror attacks in the United States appears to have been more than made up for by massive influx from the Chinese mainland.

In December, the territory received 1.3 million tourists, up 6.4 percent from a year ago -- the highest number of visitors to the territory in a single month, HKT

Shandong Province Attracts 80 Million Tourists
Over 80 million foreign and domestic tourists visited east China's Shandong Province in 2001, an official from the provincial tourism bureau said on Monday.

He said that over 830,000 overseas tourists, 14.6 percent higher than the previous year, visited the province last year, bringing a total revenue of US$ 380 million a 21.4 percent increase on the previous year.

Most of the overseas tourists were from the United States, Germany, Canada, Britain, France and Russia, while the dome

Xi'an:Terracotta Warriors stand strong after 2,000 years
Where is the location of: (a) the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century? (b) the Eighth Wonder of the World? (c) a museum visited by 40 million tourists since 1979? If you answered "Xi'an" to all three questions, take a bow. If not, you should make plans to visit China's first capital city to see an amazing treasure house of Chinese history and culture.

Qinshihuang was the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). During his 15-year reign, he built many colossal

First Sino-US Joint Venture on Business Travel Established in China
China International Travel Service (CITS) and American Express jointly established CITS American Express Travel Services Limited here on Monday, the first Sino-US business travel joint venture in China.

The company will provide business travel management services to clients from multi-national corporations, regional companies and domestic companies throughout the country. Services to be provided by the company include obtaining and handling visas, international and domestic flight reserva

Millions of Travellers on Road for Holiday
The world's largest population has been on the move since Monday as millions of travellers await the traditional Chinese family reunion season. This year's Spring Festival travel period lasts 40 days, from January 28 to March 8. A total of 1.74 billion travels by passengers taking various forms of public transport are predicted, about 100 million more than last year. Wu Qiang, a senior official with the Ministry of Railways, said the first peak will fall on February 7-9, and involve about 3.6 mi

China Says No to Overpriced Goods at Airport
As the traditional Spring Festival approaches, the overpricing of souvenirs and food at China's major airports has been denounced by the mass media. And the media's efforts are now paying off. In the past few weeks, the media revealed that the country's major airports all set unreasonable prices on their goods. A journalist in Guangzhou reported that sticky rice chicken, a local snack normally costing three yuan, was sold for 13 yuan at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. Another journalist with China Bus

China Says No to Overpriced Goods at Airports
As the traditional Spring Festival approaches, the overpricing of souvenirs and food at China's major airports has been denounced by the mass media. And the media's efforts are now paying off. In the past few weeks, the media revealed that the country's major airports all set unreasonable prices on their goods. A journalist in Guangzhou reported that sticky rice chicken, a local snack normally costing three yuan (US$ 0.36), was sold for 13 yuan (US$ 1.57) at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. Another jou

Airlines Bidding for Open Discounts
A tie-up between five domestic carriers to offer discounted tickets on the Shanghai-Beijing route was grounded after a notice was served to the airlines by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. A staff at one of the local China Eastern Airlines ticketing offices admitted that they had received an order from the eastern branch of CAAC. "We stopped giving discounts after that," the staff said. On Friday, China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines, Air China, China Northern Airlines and China Xinhua Ai

World Cup Still Far Away for Local Fans
One of Shanghai's largest travel agencies says it has secured 1,000 tickets for China's first three games in this summer's World Cup, but local soccer fans will have to pay through the nose if they want to travel to South Korea to watch the excitement live. Spring International Travel Service Co. is offering tours to South Korea - including air fare, hotel for four or five days, and one stadium ticket - for 12,000 yuan (US$1,450). Normally, the company sells tours to South Korea for 3,000 yuan.

Mandarin Becoming More Widely Used in Hong Kong
As China's entry into WTO expected to bring about more opportunities, the use of Putonghua is becoming more widespread in Hong Kong. Against this backdrop, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council held its first meeting ever to discuss how the use and teaching of the language can be promoted. Participating government officials and legislators, who are used to speaking either English or Cantonese dialect in speeches at the council, were speaking in Putonghua for the first t

Hainan Aims to be Tourists' Paradise
The tourism industry of South China's Hainan Province saw booming growth and further regulation and improvement last year, according to the local tourism bureau. The province welcomed 11.25 million tourists from home and abroad last year, up 11.6 per cent from 2000. And tourism revenues totalled 8.79 billion yuan (US$1.1 billion), 11.8 per cent higher than in 2000. Holiday tourism flourished, said Han Lixin, director of the bureau. The number of tourists attending the Spring Festival, May Day an

Electrical Plane Tickets Available
An advanced electronic system for selling airplane tickets, recently launched in Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province, has enabled consumers to buy airplane tickets without going to a travel agency. The first of its kind in China, the new sales system is composed of hundreds of automatic machines providing various booking services, agency reported. By touching the machine's sensitive screen lightly, following its instructions, ticket buyers can get detailed information about scheduled fl

More Chinese Travel Abroad During Spring Festival
Procedures Simplified for Outbound Travels Jin Qiuyue, an advertising company employee, is planning a trip to Australia. She says, "My husband and I intend to spend each Spring Festival vacation in a different country from now on." China has introduced travel reforms to simplify procedures for those wanting to travel abroad, e.g letters of invitation are no longer necessary. Outbound Travels Booming According to statistics, over 10 million Chinese citizens have traveled overseas annually since 2

Travel Agency?High World Cup Ticket Prices Get Bad Reviews
One of Shanghai's largest travel agencies says it has secured 1,000 tickets for China's first three games in this summer's World Cup, but local soccer fans will have to pay through the nose if they want to travel to South Korea to watch the excitement live. Spring International Travel Service Co. is offering tours to South Korea - including air fare, hotel for four or five days, and one stadium ticket - for 12,000 yuan (US$1,450). Normally, the company sells tours to South Korea for 3,000 yuan.

Guilin:China's Famous Scenic City Attracts ROK Tourists
Guilin, a well-known scenic city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, hopes to host at least 120,000 tourists from the Republic of Korea (ROK) this year.

Chen Yunchun, deputy head of Guilin tourism bureau, said his city would make good use of the opportunities offered by China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), improve its tourism marketing and intensify promotional tourism activities specially designed to attract ROK visitors.

The number of exchanges an

Part of China's First Cross-Straits Railway in Operation
The Zhanjiang-Hai'an section of a north-south railway project that will link Guangdong province on China's mainland and Hainan Island started operation recently.

The Chinese mainland and Hainan Island are separated by the Qiongzhou Straits. Previously, people traveling to Hainan Island would have to take ferries or planes.

The Guangdong-Hainan railway, the first of its kind in the country, will cross the straits. The line begins in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, in the north, cutti

Chinese Tour Party of 500 Japan Bound
East China's Shandong Province will organize a tour party of 500 people to visit Japan this year, Shandong provincial tourist bureau officials said.

As the largest tour party the province has ever organized, it is expected to help promote the province's businesses in the Japanese tourist market, said Yu Fenggui, deputy director of the provincial tourist bureau.

He added Shandong will cooperate with the All Japan Airways to launch a large-scale tourist promotion program. The airways

Zhejiang to invest US$2 billion in transportation
The eastern province of Zhejiang is to invest 18 billion yuan (US$2.17 billion) this year in transportation infrastructure, the provincial communications department said recently.

A total of 547 kilometers of expressways will be built cross the province this year, according to an investment plan the department disclosed at the annual session of the provincial legislature.

The total length of expressways in the province is expected to reach 1,317 kilometers by the end of this year,

Yantai-Dalian rail-ferry project launched
The heralded Yantai-Dalian railway-ferry line project was formally launched recently with the establishment of a project management company.

The Yantai-Dalian railway-ferry line -- connecting Yantai Port to Yangtouwa Port of Dalian -- will span 79.4 nautical miles across the Bohai Sea and is expected to involve 3.1 billion yuan (US$373 million), according to the newly-established company.

Some 2.2 billion yuan (US$265 million) will be poured into the construction of the line and th

Foreign Travel Agencies Head Inshore
The city will allow major foreign travel agencies to become controlling share-holders in joint ventures beginning this month, the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission announced recently.

Currently, there are no joint-venture travel agencies in the city, but officials would like to see one or two established by the end of this year.

The city may even allow wholly owned foreign travel agencies to set up in town before 2005, the date China promised to open the travel business as

China Renovating Former Vietnamese Leader Ho Chi Minh Residence
China is renovating the former residence of Ho Chi Minh, late leader of Vietnam, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The renovation will cost 200,000 yuan. The two-story Chinese style building, in Liuzhou City, is expected to be completed before October, and will be open to visitors some time this year. It had been used as a primary school and is now designated as a cultural relic under provincial protection.

Ho Chi Minh was detained by the Kuomintang police in Guang

Charter air service takes off
The Shandong Rainbow Business Aircraft Co was officially established recently.

One subsidiary under Shandong Airlines, the new company will offer chartered planes for business, tourism and utility services in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and adjacent countries, said Bai Weisan, the new company's chairman.

The company now has four CRJ-200 airplanes and will acquire another four luxury airplanes -- Challenger 604s -- in the coming years. Bai said his company

Beijing to Hold 2004 World Toilet Summit
Beijing has won the bid to hold the 2004 world toilet summit.

According to the Beijing Times, President of the World Toilet Society (WTS) Shen Yuehua said, Beijing became a favorite of the 2001 Singapore WTS committees by showing documentaries of Beijing's much improved toilets.

An official with the Beijing Municipal Tourism Bureau said they will continue upgrading Beijing toilets in the next three years asstipulated in an agreement with the WTS.

The official said Beijing pl

THAI to Establish More Air Routes to China
Thai Airways International (THAI),the national carrier,is planning to establish direct flights to more destinations in China as its new air linkage between in Bangkok and Chengdu China,becomes more popular,the state-owned radio reported Thursday.

The thrice-weekly flights between Bangkok and the capital of China's Sichuan Province have become increasingly popular among overseas visitors since it opened on January 2,as Sichuan houses a range of tourist attractions and is the home of world-

Restructuring in aviation sector to help improve competitiveness
The reorganization of the domestic aviation industry is going smoothly and is expected to be completed within two years, said officials from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the industry watchdog.

The three new aviation groups involve Beijing-based Air China, Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines and Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines. They will combine assets, aircraft and management.

The plan must still be authorized by the State Council.

Beijing Sets Stage for Spring Festival
With colourful flags dressing up the withered trees along Beijing's streets and residents ready to visit fairs at various temples, China's ancient capital gears up for the year's most important traditional celebration - the Spring Festival.

All of the city's nine temple fairs have wrapped up their preparations and vow to maintain their leading position in providing entertainment with local and traditional flavour during the festival, said Ma Xin, vice-director of the Beijing Municipal Cul

Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan to Reopen Officially Wednesday
China's embassy in Afghanistan will officially reopen Wednesday, and Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi will preside over the reopening ceremony, a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman said in Beijing Tuesday. At a press conference spokesman Kong Quan said he believed that the reopening of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan will further promote the relations between China and its friendly neighbor Afghanistan. He also expressed hope that leaders of the Afghan interim government and Wang would m

Worldwide Tourists Numbers Drop 1.3% in 2001
Tourists numbers around the world fell by 1.3 percent in 2001 due to the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and the economic slump in major countries from where the bulk of overseas visitors came from,the World Tourism Organization (WTO) said in Madrid recently.

A total of 689 million people traveled abroad last year, down from 697 million in 2000, according to statistics issued by the Madrid-based world tourism body.

But China turned out to be a highlighted attrac

Maglev Railway Under Construction in Shanghai
Without media promotion, nor the noise usually associated with construction projects, the building of the world's first transrapid maglev railway line is progressing in China's largest commercial center, Shanghai. The line, which is to play an important role in the country's transportation, people's lives and the country's economic development, has been under construction for almost a year. Near a subway station in an industrial area of the city, a giant building with a steel dome stands out. It

Maglev Railway Under Construction in Shanghai
The building of the world's first transrapid maglev railway line, in which the technology is for the first time being used for a commercial project, is progressing smoothly in China's largest commercial center, Shanghai. When completed it will only take eight minutes for passengers to travel the 30-kilometers (19 miles) between Pudong International Airport and the downtown area of the city, with a top speed about 430 kilometers (267 miles) per hour. A construction site with less noise Without me

Railway: Daily Passengers Hit 2.94 Million
More than 20 million passengers have taken trains home for the Spring Festival -- the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year -- since last Monday. The average daily volume of railway passengers over the past week reached 2.77 million and this surged on Sunday to 2.94 million, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Railways. And the number of railway passengers is expected to keep increasing in the coming days, with the first peak falling on February 7-9. Trains are still the most im

Saudis Admit Hijackers of Sept. 11 Attacks Were Citizens
Saudi Arabia acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that 15 of the 19 hijackers in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon were Saudi citizens. "The names that we got confirmed that," Interior Minister Prince Nayef said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Their families have been notified." Previously, Saudi Arabia had said the citizenship of the 15 hijackers was in doubt despite US insistence they were Saudis. Osama bin Laden -- the chief suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks

2.77 Million Hit the Tracks Daily Over the Past Week
More than 20 million passengers have taken trains home for the Spring Festival -- the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year -- since last Monday. The average volume of railway passengers over the past week reached 2.77 million and this surged on Sunday to 2.94 million, said the latest statistics from the Ministry of Railways. And the number of railway passengers is expected to keep increasing in the coming days, with the first peak falling on February 7-9. Trains are still the most important means

China to Tighten up on Air Market
China will tighten up its price control on the aviation market by cracking down on the illegal discounts now prevalent in the industry,said Liu Jianfeng,director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Liu made these remarks recently in response to the recent rampant price cuts in China to win more market share in the 40-day spring rush,a peak season for Chinese to travel home for a family reunion during the Chinese Lunar New Year. Liu said the aviation administration will stiffen laws to

First Transrapid Maglev Railway Under Construction in Shanghai
A construction site with less noise Without media promotion, nor the noise usually associated with construction projects, the building of the world's first transrapid maglev railway line is progressing in China's largest commercial center, Shanghai. The line, which is to play an important role in the country's transportation, people's lives and the country's economic development, has been under construction for almost a year. Near a subway station in an industrial area of the city, a giant build

Citizens Long for Maglev Trip
Taxi driver Wu Zhengliang says, like many Shanghai residents, he can't wait for the opportunity to take a ride on the world's first rapid maglev train line, which is currently under construction in Pudong. While prices haven't been set yet for a ride on the line, which will link Metro Line 2 with the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Wu said the experience will be worth the cost. "Fifty yuan for a one-way trip is not expensive for me to experience traveling at such a high speed," said Wu. T

Queen Elizabeth II Marks 50 Years on British Throne
Personal sorrow mingled with royal history as Queen Elizabeth II reached a bittersweet milestone Wednesday, somberly marking 50 years as monarch on the anniversary of her father's death. Golden Jubilee celebrations are planned later this year, but for the queen, Feb. 6 is typically a day of quiet reflection. This year, she broke her tradition of commemorating Accession Day privately to visit cancer patients at a hospital in King's Lynn, near the royal estate at Sandringham, in Norfolk, 100 miles

China to Issue 10 Series of Commemorative Coins
In 2002 China is to issue 10 series of gold and silver commemorative coins, including 19 types of gold coin, one type of platinum and 21 types of silver coin.

A spokesman for the People's Bank of China said this year's commemorative coins will feature a variety of themes, including the giant panda, the Guanyin Buddha, Chinese grotto art, Chinese customs and Peking opera. New technology will be employed in producing these coins.

The aggregate weight of the gold coins to be issued th

Buddhist Relic to Be Worshipped in Taiwan
Representatives from the Buddhist circles of Chinese mainland and Taiwan agreed here recently to let a Buddhist relic be taken to Taiwan to be enshrined and worshipped there for 37 days.

The relic, a finger bone of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism,is a special sacred trace of the Buddha for the Buddhists. It will arrive in Taiwan late February.

The finger bone had been buried in the Famen Temple in Fufeng, western China's Shaan'xi Province for 1,113 years until it happened to be

Cameramen Encounter Siberian Tiger in Changbai Mountain
Four cameramen from two local TV stations in northeast China's Jilin Province had an narrow escape with a wild Siberian tiger recently in Hunchun Nature Reserve in Changbai Mountain and they shot the rare scene of the tiger's attack.

They were accompanied by over a dozen people from the provincial forestry administration and the nature reserve.

The tiger had a roe in its mouth when the cameramen spotted it 100 meters away.

The tiger dropped the roe when it saw the people and

Large Number of Cultural Relics Discovered in Southwest China
More than 500 ancient cultural relics have recently been excavated in Longling County in
southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The relics include a wide variety of stoneware, especially stone axes of different shapes, and examples of pottery such as pots, bowls and basins.

The relics can be dated back to the Xia and Shang dynasties (approximately 21st-11th century BC) and will be of great help for research into the history of the Chinese nation, according to archeologists.

S

Beijing to Complete Public Facilities for the Disabled
Facilities which enable easy access for disabled people and senior citizens must be completed soon, a delegate said in the Fifth Session of the 11th Beijing
Municipal People's Conference.

Lu Zhengming, deputy director of the Executive Council of Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation, said, "A civilized society should take care of the vulnerable and secure their rights in public affairs."

Lu said that no buses in Beijing have been equipped with facilities for the disabled, while i

Shanghai City to Receive More Japanese Tourists This Year: Predict
Tourists from Japan will increase by 8 percent to 10 percent this year from last year in Shanghai,local tourism officials predicted.

The city is targeting more Japanese tourists this year, when a decline in the number of tourists from US and European countries is foreseeable resulting from the September 11terror attack and a global economic slowdown.

The number of Japanese tourists has continued to grow in the city in recent years.It totaled a third of the city's total two million

HK Signs Air Services Transit Agreement With Ukraine
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government signed an air services transit agreement with Ukraine recently, according to a government press release.

Secretary for Economic Services Sandra Lee said at the signing ceremony that the agreement with Ukraine marks a new chapter in the development of the aviation relations between Hong Kong and Ukraine.

"I hope these bilateral relations will develop in time for the further growth of other economic ties between the two p

Ancient Tomb in Excavation Near Xi'an City
The Archaeology Institute in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has recently excavated the tomb of Huidi, the second emperor of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-25 A.D.)

The excavation shows that the tomb, located in the suburbs of Xianyang City, near Xi'an, is reportedly square in shape and its walls were well preserved.

What is more interesting is that another tomb was found 270 meters away from the emperor's tomb. After careful research, the tomb was confirmed as belonging to E

Northwest Shaanxi province gets US$1.99b government injection
Shaanxi in backward Northwest China received 16.5 billion yuan (US$1.99 billion) in national debt last year to speed up its economic development.

The financial injection for the province was raised through the issuance of State treasury bonds.

"By the end of last year, Shaanxi received 16.5 billion yuan from the national debt which was used for 359 projects," said Hong Feng, director of Shaanxi Provincial Development Planning Commission.

The total investment in the projects

Direct flight to link China, India
China Eastern Airlines Co Ltd will open the first direct link between China and India at the end of March, a company executive said on Saturday.

According to an agreement between the two countries' civil aviation authorities, China Eastern Airlines will fly twice a week from Shanghai to Delhi, with a stopover in Beijing, said General Manager Liu Shaoyong.

The decision to open a direct link between China and India has resulted from the constant expansion of bilateral cooperation and

Beijing establishes tourist information net
A tourist information network, composed of one tourist information center and nine information stands, has been put in operation in Beijing.

The tourist information stands can be seen at the city's major scenic spots. Their services include the provision of information, flight ticket ordering, emergency aid, receiving complaints, and souvenir displays.

The network is linked via the Internet, sharing one platform and the same information resources in both Chinese and English. The st

Three Gorges Resettlement Costs 28 Billion Yuan
China has spent 28.7 billion yuan (about 3.5 billion U.S.dollars) of state money on
resettlement to make way for the Three Gorges, hydro-power project,announced an official overseeing the project.

This was revealed Monday by Guo Shuyan, deputy director of Three Gorges Project Construction Committee with the State Council,at the work meeting of the China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corp., the undertaker of the project.

By the end of November last year, 418,000

Chinese Celebrate Spring Festival in New Fashions
The Chinese are celebrating their first Spring Festival since joining the WTO in a new way. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on February 12 this year. Beijing residents usually celebrate their holidays by going to temple fairs, but they now have temple fairs of western style. Visitors to the Beijing Chaoyang Park can wear masks and dress themselves up in costumes. They can listen to Jazz, dance Latin dances and taste German and Thai dishes. Yang Weiping, an official in t

Non-governmental Exchanges Weave Sino-US Ties
Nowadays you can watch Disney ballet in Beijing and enjoy Chinese Gongfu in American cinemas. Americans stroll around traditional temple fairs during the Spring Festival and over Christmas Chinese parents call their children who are studying in the United States. These are only a small number of the many exchanges taking place between China and the United States. On February 21, 1972, when President Nixon visited China, there were few Americans here. Thirty years later, when President Bush is to

Non-Governmental Exchanges Weave Sino-US Friendly Ties
Nowadays you can watch Disney ballet in Beijing and enjoy Chinese Gongfu in American cinemas. Americans stroll around traditional temple fairs during the Spring Festival and over Christmas, Chinese parents call their children who are studying in the United States. These are only a small number of the many exchanges taking place between China and the United States. On February 21, 1972, when President Nixon visited China, there were few Americans here. Thirty years later, when President Bush is t

Spending Holiday Away From Home
In keeping with tradition, most people in this age group return to their hometowns for the holiday. The long lines at train and bus termini attest to the importance the Chinese place on the familial aspects of the Lunar New Year. That the individuals interviewed below opted to remain in Shanghai during Spring Festival is exceptional. Zhou Jing, female, 19, soldier, from Nanchang, Jiangxi Province Zhou joined the army last December, and as per army rules, she does not have holidays during the fir

Greeting Spring Festival the Tujia Way
As this year's Spring Festival approaches, people are wondering how to spend the week-long holiday. For those willing to travel, an ideal choice might be a visit to Yongxinping village deep in the mountains of Central China's Hubei Province and inhabited by the Tujia ethnic group, said Zhang Shihui, an ethnology researcher. Zhang was born in the village but has worked in Beijing for the past four years. In 2001, he went home for Spring Festival and was interested by things that had previously se

Chinese Celebrate Spring Festival in New Fashions
Temple Fairs of Western Style in Beijing Beijing residents usually celebrate their holidays by going to temple fairs, but they now have temple fairs of western style. Visitors to the Beijing Chaoyang Park can wear masks and dress themselves up in costumes. They can listen to Jazz, dance Latin dances and taste German and Thai dishes. Yang Weiping, an official in the Chaoyang Cistrict Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, said, "The park is expected to have some 300,000 visitors during the Spr

China Greets 21st Century's First Year of Horse
The coming Tuesday marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse, according to China's lunar calendar, ushering in all the strength and determination of the noble animal that claims an important position in Chinese culture. When the word ma, which means horse, is mentioned, most Chinesecan rattle off idiom after auspicious steed-related idiom, such as"ma dao cheng gong", which means winning success immediately upon arrival, "wan ma ben teng", or 10,000 galloping horses, and "ma buting ti", which

China to Tighten up on Air Market
China will tighten up its price control on the aviation market by cracking down on the illegal discounts now prevalent in the industry, said Liu Jianfeng, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Liu made these remarks recently in response to the recent rampant price cuts in China to win more market share in the 40-day spring rush,a peak season for Chinese to travel home for a family reunion during the Chinese Lunar New Year. Liu said the aviation administration will stiffen laws

Shanghai Launches Ambitious Waterfront Development Plan
Shanghai, in its aim to become a first-class international metropolis, has launched an ambitious plan to develop its waterfront area along the Huangpu River which
flows through the city.

The plan, the result of more than a year's efforts, including work by leading international urban planning and design units, was recently unveiled by the municipal urban planning bureau and involves an area of 2,260 hectares in Pudong, Luwan, Huangpu,
Hongkou and Yangpu districts.

These areas

Beijing to launch new weather forecasting service
With a phone call, a fax or a simple click of the mouse, Beijing residents will be able to order a short, medium or long term weather forecast, according to their needs.

The new service will be launched by the Beijing Meteorological Bureau on February 6, the first of its kind in China, said a bureau source in Beijing recently.

The weather forecasts can be issued via phone, fax, e-mail or letter. Detailed information can be provided for a particular period of time or region, and can

McDonald's Eyes Beijing Airport
McDonald's, the American fast food giant, plans to open an outlet in Beijing's international airport, according to an airport stuff.

Negotiations are underway at present, and if everything goes on smoothly, the new McDonald's restaurant could be opened late this year, said Cao Runmin, real estate manager of airport company.

The airport receives a total of 21 million passengers annually. But for a long time, passengers have been complaining about the overpriced food at restaurants a

Shanghai Vows to Become Int'l Tourist City
It seems the appellation of "an important economic powerhouse" is still not enough for Shanghai,as the city has recently unveiled its ambitious plan to become a world-class tourist city.

According to the plan, revealed at a municipal tourism meeting,the city will adopt a series of measures to accelerate the development of its tourism industry.

The city will seek to tap the potential of "metropolitan tourism" and become an international destination for business, shopping, conference

Zhangjiajie Dismantles Constructions to Protect Natural Scenery
A massive dismantling campaign is underway in Zhangjiajie scenic zone, central China's Hunan Province, to restore the natural beauty of this "World Heritage".

Situated in the northwestern part of the province and in the heart of the Wulingyuan Mountains, Zhangjiajie boasts unique, beautiful natural scenery.

In 1982, the State Council approved Zhangjiajie to become the first state forest park in China, and it was put on the World Heritage list by UNESCO in 1992.

A jumble of p

State Scenic Zone Eyes World Heritage List
China hopes to get one of its state-level scenic zones listed on the world natural heritage, in order to better protect and make long-term use of precious natural resources in the zone, located in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

The zone, where the Lancang, Nujiang and Jinsha rivers run side by side for more than 170 kilometers, covers an area of over 34,000 square kilometers.

The scenic zone is home to many rare and precious animals and plants and has a range of high mountain

China's Reform Pioneer City to Expand Tourism
Shenzhen, China's first special economic zone designed to pilot the country's reform and opening-up drive, will pour five billion yuan (about US$ 602 million) into building a number of new tourist facilities during the 2001-2005 period.

Chi Xiongbiao, director of Shenzhen City Tourism Administration,explained that the decision was made to improve the city's tourist appeal.

Tourism fixed assets in the city have now reached 20 billion yuan (about US$ 2.41 billion). And the tourism in

Macao to Hold Arts Gala
The 13th Macao Arts Festival will be another showcase of splendid Chinese and international cultures and development of local arts.

A press release said that the annual arts event, organized by the Cultural Institute with support from the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, is slated for March 8 to 24.

The festival will include performances, exhibitions and an extensive film program, said Ho Lai Chun, president of the Cultural Institute.

"All in all, there is sure to be some

More Chinese Travel Abroad During Spring Festival
In keeping with tradition, many Chinese will continue to have family reunions during the Spring Festival. However the impending holiday will also see more Chinese traveling abroad.

Jin Qiuyue, an advertising company employee, is planning a trip to Australia. She says, "My husband and I intend to spend each Spring Festival vacation in a different country from now on."

China has introduced travel reforms to simplify procedures for those wanting to travel abroad, e.g letters of invita

Railway: Daily passengers hit 2.94 million
More than 20 million passengers have taken trains home for the Spring Festival -- the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year -- since last Monday.

The average daily volume of railway passengers over the past week reached 2.77 million and this surged on Sunday to 2.94 million, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Railways.

And the number of railway passengers is expected to keep increasing in the coming days, with the first peak falling on February 7-9.

Trains

Chinese Celebrate Spring Festival in New Fashions
The Chinese are celebrating their first Spring Festival since joining the WTO in a new way.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on February 12 this year.

Beijing residents usually celebrate their holidays by going to temple fairs, but they now have temple fairs of western style.

Visitors to the Beijing Chaoyang Park can wear masks and dress themselves up in costumes. They can listen to Jazz, dance Latin dances and taste German and Thai dishes.

Ya

China to establish air traffic police
The State Council has agreed to establish police on aeroplanes, said Liu Jianfeng, director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) in Beijing Wednesday.

The plan is among the CAAC reform blueprint submitted to the State Council, China's cabinet, for examination and approval.

During an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Liu said that around 2,000 staff will be recruited in the force, which will be dispatched by the public security bureau of the CAAC to local a

Airline mergers get green light
The wraps were removed from China's aviation reform plans Tuesday as a top aviation official announced that nine existing State-owned airlines would be eventually merged into three aviation groups.

Beijing-based Air China will be combined with China Southwest Airlines and China Aviation Corporation, Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines will be merged with China Northwest Airlines and Yunnan Airlines, and Guangzhou-based China South Airlines will be combined with China Northern Airlines a

China Greets 21st Century's First Year of Horse
The coming Tuesday marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse, according to China's lunar calendar, ushering in all the strength and determination of the noble animal that claims an important position in Chinese culture. When the word ma, which means horse, is mentioned, most Chinese can rattle off idiom after auspicious steed-related idiom, such as"ma dao cheng gong", which means winning success immediately upon arrival, "wan ma ben teng", or 10,000 galloping horses, and "ma bu ting ti", whic

Travel Warning
With the weeklong Spring Festival holiday starting tomorrow, the Shanghai Consumers' Association is again warning the public of bogus travel agencies and guides, particularly those involved in overseas travel. The association said only five agencies in Shanghai are licensed to conduct foreign travel tours. They are Shanghai China Travel Service Corp., Shanghai China International Travel Service Co., Shanghai China CYTS Tours Corp., Shanghai Jinjiang Tours Co. and Shanghai Huating Overseas Touris

Ring in the New Year
Bi Keren, 59, a music teacher at Qinghua University, spent 2,400 yuan (US$289) on Sunday on six Chinese-style jackets for her family at Ruifuxiang, a century-old silk shop in downtown Beijing. She specially ordered the style that was worn by world leaders attending the 2001 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shanghai, to get in on a new fashion trend and so that her family can spruce up for the Spring Festival, which falls on February 12. The festival, marking the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the m

China Greets 21st Century's First Year of Horse
The coming Tuesday marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse, according to China's lunar calendar, ushering in all the strength and determination of the noble animal that claims an important position in Chinese culture. When the word ma, which means horse, is mentioned, most Chinese can rattle off idiom after auspicious steed-related idiom, such as "ma dao cheng gong", which means winning success immediately upon arrival, "wan ma ben teng", or 10,000 galloping horses, and "ma bu ting ti", whi

Rail Cargo JVs Given Initial OK
China will allow foreign companies to enter into joint ventures in the domestic railway cargo market from this year to 2003 as a first step towards totally opening the business. But Chinese firms will hold a majority stake in all such joint ventures during this initial period, sources with the Ministry of Railways said. Foreign companies will be allowed to control a majority of shares in these joint ventures from 2004 to 2006, the ministry said. After 2006, all restrictions imposed on foreign fi

Spring Festival: Time to Enjoy Happy Moments
BEIJING: "The most important thing is that my mom and I stay together to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year Festival," said Li Yang, a Senior Two Hongzhi (meaning ambition in Chinese) Class student at Guangqumen Middle School. "That is enough to make me happy." Li's father died of a cerebral hemorrhage and her mother is unemployed, which makes life quite difficult for the family. Since her home is in a suburban county of Beijing, she can only go home once every month. But she was lucky t

Nations' Business Links Closer
Bilateral trade and investment ties between China and Indonesia will be greatly enhanced this year, now that the countries have mapped out ways to build up business line-ups. That was the confident prediction by Aa Kustia, Indonesia's ambassador to China. Measures to be adopted this year include new business co-operation deals and set up of new Chinese financial institutions in Indonesia as well as the opening up of bilateral tourism markets, Kustia said. As a move to foster bilateral ties and s

Shanghai Nurtures Agricultural Conglomerates
This east China municipality has doubled its efforts to nurture agricultural conglomerates by exploiting its advantages in finance, technology, information and market to make up for the lack of laborers and land resources. The Shanghai Agriculture, Industry and Commerce (AIC) Group, which owns the Guangming Dairy Ltd., China's leading milk producer,and a major supermarket in Shanghai, is believed to be one of the "most promising" enterprises to achieve that goal, said insiders here. At a nationw

Hotel Groups Join Hands to Explore Chinese Market
Accor, a France-based international hotel operator, and Jinjiang Group, a local hotel giant, agreed to jointly expand their business in Shanghai, China's most vigorous economic center. Under the agreement, the two groups have set up a joint venture responsible for marketing and distribution. The joint venture will establish three marketing and distribution centers in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing, respectively, involving 53 Jinjiang hotels and 15 Accor hotels throughout China. A Chinese-based

More Shanghaiese Prefer to Spend Holiday Outside
More people preferred to go traveling during the Spring Festival period,with the number soaring to 250,000 this year,according to the rough statistics,eastday.com reported today. More people chose to spend the Spring Festival on travel in addition to visiting their friends and relatives,the traditional activities for the largest holiday in China. According to the statistics so far,250,000 Shanghai people spent the holiday out of the city,increasing by 7 percent from a year before.Even in the las

Tourism Industry Congratulated on Better Service
The tourism industry was given a pat on the back thanks to its improved service during this year's Spring Festival. Tourists, growing in numbers this year for the celebrations, stated they were more satisfied than ever with the organization of events, according to an official industry report released yesterday. A survey conducted in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, showed 98.6 per cent of tourists were satisfied with their trips to the city, an increase of 0.5 percent compa

Happiest Holiday Thanks to Better Service
The tourism industry was given a pat on the back thanks to its improved service during this year's Spring Festival. Tourists, growing in numbers this year for the celebrations, stated they were more satisfied than ever with the organization of events, according to an official industry report released yesterday. A survey conducted in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, showed 98.6 per cent of tourists were satisfied with their trips to the city, an increase of 0.5 per cent comp

China Bus Crashes Kill 35, Injure 60
A total of 35 people have died in two bus crashes in China over the Lunar New Year weekend, the agency reported on Sunday. Twenty-five passengers were killed on Sunday when their bus plunged off a road in the southern province of Hunan, the official agency said. On Saturday, 10 died in a similar accident in a neighbouring region. The crashes, which also injured 60 people, came in the middle of the New Year holiday, China's busiest travel week, during which hundreds of millions of people hit the

More Mainland Tourists Travel to Hong Kong in Chinese New Year Holiday
About 410,000 mainland tourists were estimated to be traveling in Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year, up 25 percent from last year, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Development Board. About two billion Hong Kong dollars (US$ 256.4 million) is expected to be pumped into Hong Kong's economy as a result, theboard estimated. Amongst the tourists, about 17,000 tourists had signed up for the special Hong Kong Tours during the Chinese New Year this year,up 42 percent from last year, said a major t

Beijing to closely cooperate with Olympic family to ensure success
Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) has expressed its wishes that they will closely work together with the Olympic family and build on experiences of the previous host cities to ensure a successful games in 2008.

Yuan Weimin, COC president and also executive president of the Beijing Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG), told the 113th session of the International Olympic Committee ( IOC) in Salt Lake City recently that the Chinese sports community will play its part in the joint

Passenger flow picks up after Chinese New Year holiday
Over 40,000 migrating workers flooded into Shanghai from the neighboring Anhui Province Saturday, the fifth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

All the additional trains arranged particularly for the return of these workers have been overloaded since Thursday, when passenger flow started to pick up, said a railway source in Shanghai.

During the post-spring holiday peak season, the railway system expects to carry over 700,000 passengers from Fuyang, Anhui Province, one of the major s

Shanghai Promotes Bid for 2010 World Expo
Shanghai streets are adorned with banners proclaiming "A Better City, A Better Life" -- the theme the city has chosen for its bid for the World Exposition 2010.

It is believed that it is the first time the World Exposition will have the "city" as its theme if Shanghai wins the bid.

The working group for the bid for the exposition told the media recently that Shanghai, the largest city in China and one of the leading cities in Asia will provide an opportunity during the exposition t

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium Opens
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in Asia, opened recently, adding another tourist attraction to China's financial center.

The aquarium, which costs 55 million U.S.dollars, is also Shanghai's largest tourism and culture joint venture. It's total floor space is over 20,000 square meters.

The aquarium aims to give visitors the opportunity to become familiar with some of the world's aquatic animals which can be found in 28 exhibition zones containing over 300 speci

Flower garden added to "Shangri-La"
A big flower garden will soon emerge in China's "Shangri-La", a legendary picturesque tourist attraction located in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in southwest China's Yunnan province.

The prefectural government expects the flower garden to be Asia's largest bulb production center, covering 200 hectares, as well as an attractive scenic spot. Among the flowers to be grown will be such popular species as tulips, lilies and crocuses.

Total investment in the garden is estimated

Southern Region Attracts Neighboring Vietnamese Tourists
South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has become a popular destination for tourists from neighboring Vietnam.

Official statistics from the regional tourism bureau show that it has received some 80,000 arrivals from January to November of 2001, an increase of 27.6 percent over the previous year.

China is the major outbound destination for Vietnamese travelers. Most of the tourists from this southeast Asian country choose to visit Guangxi over the border, where the late lead

Guangdong, Hong Kong to get cleaner water
South China's Guangdong Province will intensify its efforts to provide high-quality water here and to neighbouring Hong Kong, a water resources official said recently.

The province is now speeding up its overhaul of the Dongshen water diversion project, which will divert clean water from the upper reaches of the Dongjiang River, a branch of the Pearl River, to Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The project began in August 2000 and is expected to be completed in August 2003.

The 51.7-ki

Zoo Offers Lion as Peace Symbol
The owners of a wildlife park in Beijing said recently that they are ready to donate a lion to the Kabul Zoo in the capital of war-torn Afghanistan.

Wang Wei, deputy general manager of the Badaling Wildlife Park, said he and his colleagues learned from TV that Marjan, the one-eyed lion in Kabul Zoo, had died recently.

"Others may not understand how sad we are as zoo keepers," he said. "The life of each creature involves a lot of painstaking efforts, and Marjan was such a unique lio

Hainan aims to be tourists' paradise
The tourism industry of South China's Hainan Province saw booming growth and further regulation and improvement last year, according to the local tourism bureau.

The province welcomed 11.25 million tourists from home and abroad last year, up 11.6 per cent from 2000. And tourism revenues totalled 8.79 billion yuan (US$1.1 billion), 11.8 per cent higher than in 2000.

Holiday tourism flourished, said Han Lixin, director of the bureau. The number of tourists attending the Spring Festiv

Macao SAR office of ARATS established
The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) office of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) was inaugurated in Macao recently in an attempt to serve people across the Straits in a more direct and wide-ranging way.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said "the relationship between the Macao SAR and Taiwan has become a special component of that of the Taiwan Straits since Macao returned to the motherl

East China province to simplify exit-entry procedures
New exit-entry policies in east China's Jiangsu Province are soon to take effect in a bid to provide easy access for residents to go abroad, sources with the provincial Public Security Department have said.

Jiangsu residents wishing to go to Hong Kong or Macao on business will be able to stay there for as long as three years before their visas expire, and those who stay there for less than three months can get visas with no need to fulfill extra requirements on taxation or foreign exchang

European Airline Companies Increase Flights to China
European airline companies plan to increase the number of flights to China despite the slump in the global aviation industry, sources with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) told Xinhua here recently.

According to the sources, Lufthansa German Airlines will launch five non-stop weekly flights with Airbus A340-300 aircraft between Shanghai and Munich, starting on March 16.

Meanwhile, Finnair will start three flights from Helsinki to Hong Kong on February 7

Travel adds new kicks to Spring Festival
More than 410,000 people from the Chinese mainland are taking Spring Festival holidays in Hong Kong, according to the Immigration Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Tourist numbers are expected to pick up by 25 per cent compared with those for last Spring Festival season, said an official with the department. The travellers will generate tourism income of approximately 2 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$259 million) for the holiday week.

The official said since the

Migrants Urged to Stay Home Awhile
Although Spring Festival is officially over, transient labourers are finding it difficult to find jobs in big cities at this time because many companies have not yet got back into full swing. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security released this information Tuesday with the hope that farmers who want to leave their hometowns to find work will not flood city job markets too quickly. The ministry decided on this action after a national survey was conducted during the holiday season involving 5,

Beyond the modern fade--A Journey into Beijing's hutongs
Beyond the modern fagade--A Journey into Beijing's hutongs by Holly Krambeck "The alleys twist and wind through the inner city like veins and arteries moving through a living creature. There is endless fascination here: tiny markets, noodle shops, old men sitting in the waning sun, children playing, donkey carts, strolling lovers, ancient gateways to walled-courtyards . . . a confusion of smells and sights and sounds. The hutongs not only take you back in time, but out of the city itself? Robert

Students Lead Tourist Trend
Beijing is enduring a hot summer this year, but Shi Xiaoming, director of the Beijing Tourist Market, said this summer's tourism industry is even hotter. Opposite the Beijing Railway Station, Shi's office has received a continuous stream of visitors, especially students after the finish of national college entrance exams on July 9. "College and high school students have also contributed to the boom in the summer tourism market," said Shi. A recent survey conducted by the Beijing Evening News sho

Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce Shot Dead
Li Haicang, 47, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, was shot dead on Wednesday morning in Dongzhen Township, Wenxi County in north China's Shanxi Province. Li, also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was chairman of the board of directors and general manager of the Haixin Steel and Iron Corporation in Shanxi. Feng Yinliang, the suspect, committed suicide after the murder. Feng was a self-employer in the co

Matters Needing Attention when Traveling in Tibet
1 Documents Needed Non-Chinese travelers have to possess two documents. One is the regular Chinese visa that travelers can obtain from their local Chinese consulate, while the other is a permission letter allowing entry to Tibet issued by the Tibet Tourist Administration for foreign nationals. 2 How to get the visa and agreement to go to Tibet A traveler can apply for the visa at any Chinese consulate. With a copy of first page of the passport and a description of his or her occupation, the trav

China Opens to Foreign-owned Travel Agencies
China is to allow foreign travel firms to establish solely owned agencies from next month in a move to meet WTO commitments. Foreign firms will also be allowed to take controlling stakes in joint ventures, according to the country's tourism regulator. Foreigners will be able to operate in five major cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xi'an - and at government designated resort areas, the National Tourism Administration said on its website. The new provisions will come into effec

China Discovers More Underground Water
Chinese geologists have been discovering more reserves of underground water in the country's vast dry western regions, giving hope to millions of local residents that they can continue to live in their ancestral hometowns. The China Geological Survey announced last month that it drilled 352 wells and found more than 50 water sources in the western regions to the secure provision of around 1 billion cubic meters of fresh water every year. That is the equivalent of 10 large reservoirs, said Li Xia

Group Travelers from Mainland Doubled in Macao
Some 320 organized tours brought over 1,400 tourists from the Chinese mainland to Macao Sunday, which more than doubled the figure of the previous weekend, the tourism authority said Monday. Meanwhile, the customs witnessed the fast increase of passenger flow since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) with a total of 170,000 passengers through the land checkpoint of Gongbei Sunday, which links the Macao Special Administrative Region with south China's Guangdong Province. The

The Hezhe Ethnic Minority
The Hezhes are one of the smallest ethnic minority groups in China. In fact, poverty and oppression had reduced their numbers to a mere 300 at the time of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Since then, however, they have made speedy advances in their economic life and health care, so that by 1990 the population had grown to 4,300. They are a nomadic people who live mainly by hunting and fishing in the plain formed by the Heilong, Songhua and Wusuli rivers in Tongjiang, Fuyua

Michael's Lens on China
Michael Reynolds, 26, is a resident photographer in Beijing. He was born in the American state of Ohio and came to live and work in China after receiving a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati in 1999. Ninety kilometers south of Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, lies a small town of 40,000 people, the town of Pingyao. Pingyao is known for three historical treasures: the ancient city wall, the Zhenguo Temple, and the Shuanglin Temple. Construction of the city wall began

Why Marco Polo Could Not Speak Chinese
It was not strange that Marco Polo (1254-1324), an Italian traveler who had stayed in China for 17 years, could not speak Chinese, since he had been here during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) when Mongolian nobles governed. Yang Zhijiu, a history professor at Tianjin-based Nankai University, known for his academic study on Marco Polo, noted that though emperors of the Yuan Dynasty did appoint some officials of Han ethnic group to strengthen Mongolian rule, these low ranking officials were not able

Religion (III)
Potala Palace and Monasteries Gendun Chophel, et al, A Guide to Buddhist Holy Places , Sichuan Ethnic Publishing House, Chengdu, February 1998. 607 pp. 20 c m. ISBN 7-5409-1430-0. 16 articles on well-known Buddhist holy places in China's Tibetan d hinterland, and also in India, by Padmasambhava, Jigme Lingpa, Chankya Rolpai Dorje, Kathog Situ Chorje, Gendun Chophel and other noted scholars and Buddhist masters in Tibetan history. Su Bai, An Archeological Survey of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, C

Tea Drinking in the Palace
Tea has been the chief drink in China since ancient times, and tea drinking has been a custom for almost as long. Tea was popular in the Tang Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties prominent officials and eminent people used tea drinking as an occasion to foster friendships and discuss poetry. Tea drinking was an important part of palace life. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The tea drunk by the Royal Family was a tribute from the tea growing pro

Palestinian President Arrives in Beijing
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat arrived in Beijing Monday morning for a working visit at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Arafat will travel later on to the seaside resort of Beidaihe, about 300 kilometers east of Beijing, for discussions with Chinese leaders on the Middle East peace process. The Palestinian president is coming to China "for the special purpose of briefing the Chinese side on the latest development of the peace process," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman s

Iraq Faces Burning Questions; US Doubles Gulf Force
UN arms inspectors will demand answers from Iraq this week to burning questions that could spark a US-led war against Baghdad, as Washington more than doubles its troops in the Gulf region to 150,000. The two top UN inspectors, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, will travel to Baghdad next weekend to confront Iraqi officials over what they say are a big gaps in Iraq's declaration that it does not have any arms of mass destruction. They told the UN Security Council last week that while searches in

Chinese Parents Seek Standards for Foreigners Teaching in China
Many middle and primary schools in China try to attract students by conducting bilingual teaching and engaging foreign teachers. With the influx of more and more foreign teachers, concerns are beginning to be expressed for the first time by Chinese parents' concerns about foreign teachers' qualifications for teaching. Do these foreign teachers who come from all over the world speak correct English? Will their temporary stay in China affect the study of students? Do all foreigners teaching in Chi

China to Appropriately Develop Outbound Travel
In the coming five to 10 years, China will continue to pursue the general policy of vigorously developing entry travel, actively expanding home travel and appropriately promoting outbound travel. An official with the National Tourism Administration explains that appropriate promotion means an organized, planned and controlled development. Organized development means that outbound travel will, in a certain period of time, mainly take the form of touring party organized by travel agencies in order

China's Consumer Spending Rebounds
Since the beginning of this year, China's retail sales have started to take off, especially in May when sales grew 11.5%, the most in any month thus far. The strong growth in China's consumer spending is an extra bright spot on the Chinese economy's strong rebound. One scholar optimistically says that China's consumer spending which has been lifeless for dozens of months could be undergoing a fundamental change. The combined efforts of the government's policies on interest rates, taxes and price

Airfare Discount for Students
Students who fly United Airlines to the United States between August 1 and November 31 will enjoy a 60 percent discount on the price of a ticket. The discount is only available from Shanghai and students must have valid student identification, an official with the airline said. Students will also receive an additional 8,000 bonus kilometers and an extra 10-kilogram baggage allowance during the promotion. Official statistics indicate that more than 25,000 Chinese students pay to travel abroad eve

Hubei
The Regulations of Hubei Province on Enterprises Invested by Foreigners, Overseas Chinese and Compatriots From Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao (Amendment)(Decree 87 of the Hubei Provincial People's Government: The amendments are made in accordance with the Decree 116 of the Hubei Provincial People's Government issued on March 23, 1997.) Chapter I. General Principles Article 1 The Regulations are formulated in accordance with relevant state provisions and in light of the actual conditions of this pro

Tibet Simplifies Tourism Procedures for Taiwanese Tourists
The Tourism Bureau of the Tibet Autonomous Region has announced its decision to simplify procedures for Taiwanese tourists to enter Tibet.

Previously, compatriots from Taiwan who intended to travel in Tibet were required to first undergo a series of procedures in the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Tibet Autonomous Region and then they had to apply for a tourism confirmation letter from the autonomous regional tourism bureau.

Beginning July 1, said a source with the local tourism bure

Tourism
Tourism Market

Thanks to its high mountains, elegant rivers, springs and waterfalls, rich and varied folk customs and styles, rare animals and plants, numerous scenic spots and historical sites, distinctive operas, music and dances, and its world-renowned cuisine, China attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists every year. Today, China has one of the largest domestic tourism markets in the world and an outbound tourism market with the highest rate of growth in the world.

Recreation and Physical Fitness
Chinese people have always enjoyed activities like hiking, swimming, skiing and other winter sports, badminton, volleyball, gymnastics, Taijiquan and other forms of martial arts, and table tennis. They are avid cyclists as bicycling remains the main mode of travel for many Chinese. Now new activities also are becoming popular, especially among young people, such as rock climbing, bowling, skateboarding, and golf.

The latest national survey on physical fitness in China completed in October

Tibet Becomes Favorable Choice for Shanghai Tourists
As China's National Day vacation draws near, more Shanghai citizens will choose to travel around the Tibet Autonomous Region. A six-day package tour to Tibet jointly initiated by the Tibet tourist bureau and five Shanghai local travel agencies has attracted many Shanghai citizens to register. Covering Lhasa, Gyangze County and Xigaze County, the tour route will show the tourists the unique culture and enchanting natural scenes in Tibet. Many other tourist routes are also very popular among Shang

Village Built on China's Largest Desert
Chinese farmers have built a village on the northern edge of the vast Taklimakan Desert, known as the "sea of death" over the past few years. Most of the residents of the 70-household village near Aksu, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region moved here from Sichuan and Henan provinces, hoping to gain from the local government's new preferential policies for desert developers. Those who have contracted to open up the desert do not have to pay any fees related to the process for 10-

Metal Scrap
Our plants in China monthly process 4,000 tons of non-ferrous metal scrap. Items including but not limited to: Cu/Al/Pb cables, Irony stainless/Cu/Brass/Al/Zn/Pb, shredded metals, motors. Our brass mill requires 2,000 tons of brass per month. We are constantly sourcing and buying. If you have some buying/exporting experience in your region, we would like to discuss with you. Our main requirements are: you must be honest, reliable and enthusiastic; willing to learn and travel. Joint venture is al

Chongqing to Issue Visas to Overseas Travelers
Chongqing has become the first city in Southwest China authorized to issue visas to overseas travelers. From now on, overseas visitors flying into the city can get visas directly from the local visa department of the public security bureau at the Jiangbei International Airport in the city. They will no longer have to travel to other cities for a visa.

Miaofeng Mountain and Wild Rose Valley
Miaofeng Mountain, with its towering peaks rising majestically to a height of more than 1,300 meters, is the major peak in the northern range of the Western Hills. Situated at a distance of about 70 kilometers from downtown areas, its sheer cliffs, jutting crags and tortuous mountain paths make it one of the most renowned scenic spots in northern China. Toward the end of the Ming Dynasty, it was the custom to hold temple fairs on Miaofeng Mountain every tear during the fourth month of the lunar

Full Text of the Report on China's Economic and Social Development Plan
Following is the full text of the Report on the Implementation of the 2003 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the 2004 Draft Plan for National Economic and Social Development, delivered at the Second Session of the 10th National People's Congress on March 6, 2004:

REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2003 PLAN FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ON THE 2004 DRAFT PLAN FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

By Ma Kai, Minister of the State Dev

Search for 43 Missing Chinese Tourists Continues
Police in the Republic of Korea (ROK) are still looking for 43 Chinese reportedly missing on March 15, the day they entered the country, said a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Seoul. Twenty-three other Chinese citizens who arrived in the ROK's western coastal city of Inchon on the same day also went missing. But they were found and have since returned to China, said Li Ruifeng, a Chinese Embassy media official. Li said his embassy is keeping close contact and cooperating with the local poli

Astronomy and Earth Science (II)
History of Discovering China's Mineral Deposits: Tibet Volume Editing Committee, ed, History of Discovering China's Mineral Deposits: Tibet Volume, Geological Publishing House, Beijing, October 1996. 76 pp. Illus. 26 cm. ISBN 7-116-02277-5. Chinese-English bilingual edition. An account of the history and current situation of geological prospecting in the Tibet Autonomous Region, and characteristics of 19 mineral ores and 36 orefields in Tibet as well as the course of finding them and their devel

Shanghai Next Port of Call for Luxury Liners
More than 50 international cruise ships are expected to visit Shanghai this year, local official sources revealed. Ocean cruises and Formula One are tipped to become the city's two hot tourism areas in the coming years, said Yao Mingbao, director of the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission. For the first half of this year, the registered number of international cruise liners has already reached nearly 30. That figure is expected to rise to over 50 ships in the coming year, said Shen Huixun

First Magnetic Train to Be Finished
China?￥s first magnetic levitation train (maglev) for commercial use is expected to be finished by the end of next month. The train, which will be raised eight millimeters above the rails, is designed to travel at 80 km per hour. It is being constructed by the Changchun Passenger Railway Car Plant in northeast China?￥s Jilin Province. The train will be 11 meters long, weigh 18 tons and carry about 80 passengers. It is scheduled to run next year between Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Hill, two famous t

Beyond the Modern Facade--A Journey Into Beijing's Hutongs
The alleys twist and wind through the inner city like veins and arteries moving through a living creature. There is endless fascination here: tiny markets, noodle shops, old men sitting in the waning sun, children playing, donkey carts, strolling lovers, ancient gateways to walled-courtyards . . . a confusion of smells and sights and sounds. The hutongs not only take you back in time, but out of the city itself? --Robert Westbrook, My China. Not long ago, a Chinese friend had asked me how to say

Head West and Climb
Mugecuo in Sichuan Province offers nature's refinements in wild setting One experienced traveller said the real traveller is the one who explores isolated and wild places alone. But how many people will have the courage to tour alone in the wild? Here is a destination that can help you realize your dream to become "real traveller" without suffering danger and loneliness. This time, you will go to Mugecuo (pinyin spelling) in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Located in the 3,700-metre-high mou

Preparing for National Day Tourist Peak
The Chinese government and service enterprises have prepared for a peak in tourism expected for the week-long National Day holiday, from October 1 to 7. Sun Gang, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), said during a press conference on Sept. 19 that "the order of travel for the coming National Day holiday will be better than that of the International Labor Day period in May." Many tourist cities and scenic areas have added hotels, parks, toilets and ticketing office

Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens
(Approved by the State Council on December 3, 1986, and Promulgated by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 27, 1986) These Rules are formulated in accordance with the stipulations in Article 33 of The Law of the People's Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens (hereinafter referred to as The Law on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens) ?

Chapter I Entry into the Country

Article 1 For entry into China, aliens shall

Hainan Province
Taxation Article 1: Income out of production or business operation of an enterprise in Hainan (state banks and insurance companies excluded) shall be levied an income tax at a rate of 15 percent. 1. Enterprises with an operational period of over 15 years and engaging in either agricultural or infrastructural development such as the construction of harbor, dock, airport, highway, railway, power station, coal mine, water-control project, etc., shall be exempt from income tax for the initial five y

Fuchun River
It is the upper reach of the Qiantang River in central Zhejiang Province. The farther you travel up along the river, the greener the water becomes just like a green bend zigzagging among mountains and peaks. The major scenic sights along the river are Crane Hill (Heshan), Heavenly Prince Ridge (Tianzigang), Tongjun Hill, Fishing Terrace of Yan Ziling, and Eastern Han Dynasty official who once sought seclusion in Fuchun River area, Calabash Waterfall (Hulupubu) and Double Pagodas Piercing Clouds

Maluan Mountain -- One of Shenzhen's Best-kept Secrets
Maluan Mountain is not the most famous mountain in the Shenzhen area, even among the city's long-term residents.

However, it is extremely popular among avid hikers because it's easy, safe, beautiful and varied with clear streams, lush woods, Chinese plum blossoms and one of the area's largest waterfalls.

The mountain's paths aren't surfaced, yet the climb is not strenuous, as the summit is only half the height of Shenzhen's highest peak, Wutong Mountain.

Expeditions to Malua

Marco Polo Did Visit China
A professor with the Beijing University has claimed to have found new evidence proving that Marco Polo (1254-1324), an Italian traveler, did come to China. Dang Baohai, a history professor, disclosed this at an international seminar on the relationship between Marco Polo and China in the 13th century, which was held here recently. Dang cited three examples from the travel note taken by Marco Polo: a legend about the birth of a Khan of Ouigour, an ancient nationality in northwest China; Mongolian

Metal Scrap
Our plants in China monthly process 4,000 tons of non-ferrous metal scrap. Items including but not limited to: Cu/Al/Pb cables, Irony stainless/Cu/Brass/Al/Zn/Pb, shredded metals, motors. Our brass mill requires 2,000 tons of brass per month. We are constantly sourcing and buying. If you have some buying/exporting experience in your region, we would like to discuss with you. Our main requirements are: you must be honest,reliable and enthusiastic; willing to learn and travel. Joint venture is als

Information on China's History, Government, Tourism and Economy
:

I am a reading teacher in Haysville, Kansas. My students will be doing a research project beginning in August. For their project they will need a variety of information about your country. Could you send me a packet of information? Items that would be of interest would be information about the history, government, tourism and economics in your country. Any other information you might have would be appreciated also. Thank you for your prompt reply.

Janelle Moore

jmoore@scte

Guangzhou Kicks Off "Spring Festival Transport Season" 40 Hours Ahead of Schedule
Guangzhou railway station kicked off the annual "Spring Festival transport season" at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 40 hours ahead of schedule. At press time, the station has already handled over 70,000 passengers, a slight increase over the same period last year. Ren Hong, vice stationmaster of Guangzhou Railway told Xinhua that, since Jan. 2, the average daily volume of Guangzhou station passengers has been above 60,000. Large numbers of migrant laborers and college students return home for the Spring

Shaanxi
Regulations on encouraging foreign investment promulgated by the People's Government of Shaanxi Province Article 1 The provisions are formulated according to the relevant stipulations on foreign investment of the state and the situations of Shaanxi. Article 2 The provisions shall apply to the projects of Sino-foreign joint ventures, Sino-foreign cooperative enterprises, and foreign-owned enterprises within Shaanxi. Article 3 Foreign investors are preferentially treated when collected land-use fe

China to Rectify Outbound Tour Market
According to news from the working conference on the National Rectification of the Outbound Tour Market which was opened on August 29, beginning from September, China will launch a rectification of the outbound tour market, focused on tours to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the regions of Hong Kong and Macao He Guangwei, director of the National Tourism Administration (NTA), said at the conference that during the rectification, the STA will join hands with the industrial and commercial, and p

Law of the People's Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens
(Adopted at the 13th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People's Congress, promulgated by Order No.31 of the President of the People's Republic of China on November 22, 1985, and effective as of February 1, 1986) Chapter I General Provisions Chapter II Entry into the Country Chapter III Residence Chapter IV Travel Chapter V Exit from the Country Chapter VI Administrative Organs Chapter VII Penalties Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions?

Chapter I General Provisions

Ravines and Pools
There are also a number of scenic watering holes in these mountain areas now open to the public. Dragon Rejoice Ravine (Longqingxia) Dragon Rejoice Ravine has been a local attraction since the Song Dynasty. Emperor Renzong of the Yuan Dynasty was born south of here. When he ascended the throne, he named the county Longqing Prefecture to commemorate his birthplace. About 85 kilometers north of Beijing proper, this recreational site is part of a large reservoir on the Gucheng River. The dam was bu

NTA to Close Six International Travel Agencies
The National Tourism Administration (NTA) has revoked the business licenses of six China-based international travel agencies, an official from NTA said in Beijing. It is the first time for NTA to revoke so many business licenses at one time during its annual check, he said. The six agencies, including the Three Gorges International Travel Agency, Huawen Int'l Travel Agency, Quanlian Int'l Travel Agency, Landscape Int'l Travel Agency, Zhongtang Int'l Travel Agency and Beijing Stars Int'l Travel A

Oman Expects to Increase Cooperation With China
Omani Sultan Qabus Bin Said expressed on Saturday his country's hope of increasing cooperation with China in political, economic and trade fields during meeting with a visiting Chinese delegation led by State Councilor Wu Yi. Qabus said that the Omani government and people pay much attention to the development in China and hope that the two countries increase cooperation in a wide range of areas. On her part, Wu spoke highly of the achievements Oman made in the national construction based on its

Ancient Chinese Music Aims for World Intangible Heritage
China will apply to have one of its ethnic music forms, the Naxi ancient music, listed as one of the masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity, said the sources in Lijiang County, the only autonomous county of the Naxi ethnic group, in the southwest Yunnan Province.

Known as a "living fossil", ancient Naxi music originated from the Taoism music that dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and three types of the original music have been handed down orally to the 280,00

China to Hold First Dance Festival in Kunming
The China National Dance Festival and Dance Art Exposition will be held from April 28 to May 18 in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Bai Shuxiang, Chairwoman of the Chinese Dancers' Association, said here recently that the event is themed to popularize the art of dance and promote international exchanges in the field.

Included in the 20-day event are a variety of dance performances, dancing competitions and seminars on the art.

Meanwhile, an open-air car

Shandong, Taiwan Enjoy Active Economic Cooperation
The economic cooperation between Taiwan and east China's Shandong Province has been expanding steadily in recent years.

According to statistics, the province had totally approved over 4,600 projects involving Taiwan investment by the end of last year,and actually absorbed 2.6 billion U.S. dollars-worth of investment from Taiwan.

At present, most Taiwan-invested enterprises in Shandong are operating smoothly, provincial officials said, adding that only 14.3 percent of all such enter

School of Free Education Established in E. China
More than 250 children from poverty-stricken families will be able to receive elementary education free of any charge including tuition and living expenses in a newly-built school in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Located in Zhoushan City, the school has received a large number of donations from people of all walks of life, in addition to government financial support.

The Putuoshan Buddhist Association, for instance, has donated 10 million yuan (about 1.2 million U.S. dollars) to

Luoyang-Hong Kong Flight Reopened
The weekly passenger flight between Hong Kong and Luoyang, a scenic city in Central China's Henan Province, was reopened Sunday after being closed for five years.

Every Thursday at 6.00pm a Boeing 737-300 will now leave Luoyang for Hong Kong leaving Hong Kong for Luoyang at 9:40 pm.

The flights, chartered by a Luoyang-based tourist company, are conducted by the Henan Branch of the China Southern Airlines.

Booming tourism in Luoyang is the reason given for reopening the air r

New Demerit System to Regulate Tourist Guides
As of April 10, China's tourist guides will be certified and regulated under a new China National Tourism Administration system that has been welcomed by both tourists and the tourism industry in China. "The management will help tourist agencies restrict and supervise tourist guides," said Mr. Tan, the manager of tourist guide department of China Youth Travel Services. Certificates made of integrated circuit (IC) cards must be worn by guides while on duty that record information such as rank --

China to Mark 2003 World Travel Day in Yichang
Yichang City in central China's Hubei Province has been chosen by the China National Tourism Administration as the venue for activities organized to mark World Travel Day next year. Situated on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Yichang is the nearest city to the site of the Three Gorges dam, the world's largest water control project which is under construction. In 1979, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) designated September 27 as World Travel Day, a day aimed at developing internationa

Beijing Becomes Increasingly Popular to Overseas Tourists
The latest statistics show that 297,000 overseas tourists visited the Chinese capital Beijing in the first two months of this year, a rise of 12.3 percent on a yearly basis. Of the total number, 239,000 were foreigners, making an annual increase of 14.5 percent, according to the Beijing Municipal Statistics Bureau. To attract more visitors, Beijing has worked hard to explore the tourism market at home and abroad, to develop new tourism products, improve the tourism environment as well as the qua

Domestic Tourists Expected to Hit 810 Million in 2002
The number of domestic tourists in China is expected to reach 810 million this year, with related revenue estimated at 380 billion yuan, a tourism official said Wednesday in Nanjing. Sun Gang, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration, said at a press conference for the China Domestic Travel Fair 2002 that the growth rate of the tourism industry thisyear will remain higher than that of the national economy as a whole. Thanks to the efforts of governments at all level to develo

Bush Urges Israeli Withdrawal, Dispatches Powell to Mideast
Following accusations from around the world that the United States has allowed violence between Israel and Palestine to spiral out of control, US President Bush said Thursday he will dispatch Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Middle East to find consensus for cease-fire. The Palestinian leadership responded by saying it accepted "without conditions". Bush demands that attacks on Israelis be stopped and that Israel in turn withdraws from Palestinian-ruled territory. Israel welcomed Powell's

Mission Created to Save Rare Species in Tibet
Fifteen volunteers will travel to Hoh Xil, in northern Tibet Autonomous Region on May 1 to visit China's largest nature reserve. In the following three months, they will venture into the depths of the reserve to work with local anti-poaching teams. Over 3,500 people from both home and abroad sent in applications to apply for a volunteer job in Hoh Xil Nature Reserve. About 100 of them have been taken on and will join the project. The reserve covers an area of 45,000 square kilometers and has an

Macao Reports Vigorous Air Traffic
The Macao International Airport continued to record strong traffic growth in March, bringing a 15.2 percent year-on-year increase in passengers handled in the first quarter of this year, the latest figures show.

Last month alone, passenger traffic of 360,660 marked the highest volume for the month of March since the airport started commercial operation in 1995. The combined volume for January to March reached 953,100.

An airport source said that driven by robust cargo exports to Eu

Macao's Population Tops 430,000: Census
Macao's population rose 22.4 percent from a decade ago to 435,200 last August, it was revealed Wednesday.

The Statistics and Census Services, following a census conducted once every ten years, posted that male and female accounted for 48 and 52 percent respectively of the total population.

The 2001 census showed that the special administrative region was bothered by an aging problem with those at and above 65 making up 7.3 percent of the population, up seven-tenths of a percentage

French Culture Month to be Launched in Late April in HK
Le French May, the annual French Culture Month, is coming to town again. This year, the focus is on French dance and visual arts, said Jerome Pasquier, consul-general of France in Hong Kong recently.

"Le French May is seeking to bring a significant contribution to the emergence of a vibrant, innovative and truly international artistic and cultural life reflecting Hong Kong's unique character as the place where 'east meets west'," Pasquier said at a news conference to launch the event.

Cross-Boundary Passenger Traffic Rises During Festive Period in Hong Kong
A total of 2.6 million people had traveled to and from the Chinese mainland by land during the 7-day Easter festive period from March 27 to April 2, 2002, up 13.2 percent as compared with the same period last year, according to a spokesman for the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Wednesday.

The number of passengers traveling via the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau checkpoints had also increased by 10.3 percent and 33.5 percent respectively over the same pe

New Air Route from Haikou to Singapore Opens
Using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, China's Hainan Airlines has introduced a non-stop three times weekly service between Haikou and Singapore.

Flight number HU 7958 is the fourth international flight to be opened by Hainan Airlines. It's jointly organized by the airlines and a travel agency of Singapore.

Hainan Airlines began the new flight route on March 31.

Hong Kong Travel Agency Unveils New Cultural Tour Schemes
Silk Road Travel Agency Limited,a company which is devoted to organizing cultural and leisure tours along the ancient Silk Road on the Chinese mainland, recently announced eight new cultural tour schemes for 2002.

These new tour programs, under the theme of "Total Cultural Experience", include Ancient Silk Road, Desert, Tibetan Buddhism, Islam, Grassland, Highland, Tang Dynasty and Manchu.

Janny Yau, manager of tour operation, said the programs are aimed at meeting the tourists' in

1,300-Year-Old Ruins Unearthed at Three Gorges
Chinese archaeologists have excavated the largest and best preserved cultural ruins of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in the Three Gorges reservoir areas.

"They are the only cultural relics of so large a scale of the Tang Dynasty ever revealed in that area," said Li Yingfu, deputy professor of the Department of Culture and History of Sichuan University, who is leading a team to conduct a rush excavation of cultural relics in the reservoir area.

The Mingyueba ruins, located on the south

Taiwan's Oldest High-Altitude Cultural Relics Unearthed
Two of Taiwan's oldest high-altitude archaeological sites were unearthed in Hsinmei, an aboriginal village near the summit of Mount Ali in the southern county of Chiayi, reports reaching here from Taipei said recently.

Taiwan's archaeological experts confirmed that the newly discovered cultural relics were buried about 3,800 years ago, making them more than 1,000 years older than the 2,500-year-old Puli cultural relics discovered a decade ago.

Ho Chuan-kun, a leading archaeologist

China, Japan Jointly Protect Ancient Palace Site in Xi'an
China and Japan have signed a cooperative memorandum on protecting the site of an ancient Chinese palace near Xi'an.

The cooperative program concerning the Tang Dynasty (618-907) building will be carried out by the Cultural Affairs Department of Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cultural Relic Bureau of China's northwestern Shaanxi Province.

Hangzhou Hosts Tea Festival
A major Chinese Tea Festival opened recently in Hangzhou, a scenic lakeside city, which is noted for its "West Lake Longjing" tea.

Organized by the city's tourism committee and the government of the West Lake District, the event will put on a series of tea ceremonies, performances and rites in accordance with folk customs and traditions in the area.

Since China was one of the earliest tea producers in the world, tea-drinking has a long tradition in the culture of the Chinese people

Nation starts construction of new building for Capital Museum
Construction work is set to begin on the new building for the Capital Museum in Beijing, due to be completed by the end of 2003.

The museum building is jointly designed by Chinese and French architects while construction will be carried out by Beijing Construction Engineering Corporation, which won the bid for the project here recently .

The new structure will cover an area of 60,000 square meters, and include a dozen of exhibition halls totaling a floor area of 30,000 square meter

Beijing Increasingly Popular With Overseas Tourists
The latest statistics show that 297,000 overseas tourists visited the Chinese capital Beijing in the first two months of this year, a rise of 12.3 percent on a yearly basis.

Of the total number, 239,000 were foreigners, making an annual increase of 14.5 percent, according to the Beijing Municipal Statistics Bureau.

To attract more visitors, Beijing has worked hard to explore the tourism market at home and abroad, to develop new tourism products, improve the tourism environment as w

Chinese domestic tourists expected to reach 810 million in 2002
The number of domestic tourists in China is expected to reach 810 million this year, with related revenue estimated at 380 billion yuan, a tourism official said Wednesday.

Sun Gang, vice chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, said at a press conference for the China Domestic Travel Fair 2002 that the growth rate of the tourism industry this year will remain higher than that of the national economy as a whole.

Thanks to the efforts of governments at all level to deve

Chinese Version of Tibetology Documents Published
A collection of Chinese versions of historical documents recording laws and regulations governing Tibet in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) has been published by the Xueyuan Publishing House.

The collection includes documents which record a series of policies, laws and regulations that the central authorities of the Qing Dynasty court adopted to govern and manage Tibet and areas around the region.

The publication allows Tibetologists, researchers on the history of the Qing Dynasty, lib

China Protects 900-Year-Old Tibetan Buddhist Stupa
China is stepping up the protection of a well-known stupa, or Buddhist shrine building, of Tibetan Buddhism in the northwest province of Qinghai.

Zangniang Stupa and a nearby Sangzhou Lamasery were listed for state protection last year.

Zangniang Stupa, the earliest existing ancient Buddhist building in Qinghai, was built in the 11th century during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). It is one of three world famous Tibetan Buddhist stupas.

However, part of the stupa was da

Wildlife Zoo to Be Built in Asia's Large-sized Artificial Forest
A wildlife zoo will be built in the Jingyuetan national forest park, one of Asia's large-sized artificial forest in northeast China's Jilin Province.

The zoo, to be built in a forest valley, is designed to cover an area of two square kilometers. After completion, it will be divided into a vehicle area and a walking area.

Huang Wenhua, director of the Jingyuetan development administration committee, said that rare birds and animals including peacocks, reindeer, rhinoceroses, camels,

More Credit Support for China Eastern Airlines
The Bank of China signed a cooperation contract of 12 billion yuan (about 1.45 billion U.S. dollars) with the China Eastern Airlines (CEA) on March 29 and promised to grant a separate loan of 200 million U.S. dollars.

It is the second time in a week the CEA has received credit support from domestic banks.

On March 25, the airlines signed a contract worth 17.6 billion yuan (about 2.12 billion U.S. dollars) with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

The first listed com

China, France Make Progress in Airport Cooperation
Beijing Capital International Airport Co., Ltd. (BCIA) and Aeoports de Paris Group Management (ADPM) have made progress in airport cooperation, a BCIA official said recently.

The two sides have done quite a lot of preliminary work over the past two years, including proposals for Terminal 2 transfer procedures and traffic analysis regarding Air China in Beijing, said Wang Jianzhuang.

ADPM has brought 9.99 percent of BCIA stakes to become a strategic investor in the Chinese company a

China Honors Qing Dynasty General Who Defended Taiwan Against Invaders
The former residence of Liu Mingchuan, a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) general who successfully defended Taiwan against a French invasion in 1884, will be renovated by the government of his hometown this year, after lying in disrepair for decades.

In addition, the government of Hefei City, capital of Anhui Province in east China, will also build a tomb for the general, whose remains are now kept in the house of a descendant, after being disinterred in December 2000 to make way for a highway.

3rd "Meet in Beijing" Culture Festival in Preparation
Large national-level culture festival-- "Meet in Beijing" is now in full preparation, said sources with the Ministry of Culture (MOC) of China here Thursday.

The gala, to be held from April 20 to May 31 in the Chinese capital, will include performances, get-togethers and exhibitions by 32 overseas artistic troupes and 15 Chinese troupes.

The organizers said the festival, in comparison with the previous ones, will put more emphasis on local troupes' performances, which is aimed to e

Qingdao to stage int'l fashion show
East China's Qingdao City will host an international fashion week in September this year, Qingdao assistant mayor Sun Jiashun announced here recently.

Activities during the fashion week would include an international exhibition of garments and adornments, a display of works by world-renowned designers, trade talks on international name brand products, and high-level seminars.

The fashion show will present a total of 1,100 exhibition stands.

Nearly 400 domestic and overseas e

Passport For Public Affairs to Phase Out
After 50 years, the country's unique Passport for Public Affairs is gradually being abolished, a senior foreign ministry official was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying.
Starting April 1, all Chinese workers going abroad for either State or private industries can only get ordinary passports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The country has four kinds of passports: Diplomatic Passports (waijiao huzhao), Service Passports (gongwu huzhao), Passports for Public Affairs (yin'gong p

Chinese Yunnan Airways Opens Air Link with Myanmar
The Yunnan Airways of China formally opened an international air route recently linking Kunming and Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city.

Myanmar Minister of Transport Major-General Hla Myint Swe said the opening of the air route will facilitate personnel exchange between Myanmar and China and promote the development of tourism.

General Manager of the Yunnan Airways Luo Chaogeng said the air route serves as an overhead bridge between the peoples of China and Myanmar and will enh

China Domestic Tourism Fair Opens in Nanjing
The five-day China Domestic Travel Fair 2002, the biggest of its kind for ten years, opened in Nanjing on April 4.

Keeping with the current rapid growth of tourism, the fair is aimed at further promoting the country's domestic tourism market.

Exhibitions featuring unique and colorful tourism resources have been mounted by 35 delegations from across the country. There are a record 2,103 booths at the fair.

The "China tourism education forum" will be held to accentuate the rol

True Story of An Old Mongolian Man in Tibet
He came to Tibet in the late 1940s to seek his long-aspired "paradise," or a fairyland on earth where he thought there was no war, no exploitation and no oppression, and where people enjoy peace, happiness and harmony.

Yexe Dainba, now 84, said that today's Lhasa is the very "paradise" that he dreamed and longed for as a young man.

Dainba arrived in this capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1947, after traveling for two years from his hometown in Fuxin City, in northeast China

China, World's Largest Digital Camera Consumer to Be
From Spring Festival till now, digital camera's sales volume continues to go up. To find out digital camera's market potential and development, reporters paid a visit to some large digital camera stores in Beijing Zhongguancun area. Third-class products favored by consumers When entering the stores, a bustling scene appeared before reporters, counters for digital cameras are overcrowded with potential buyers. They are consulting on digital cameras of different brands, different properties and st

Air Tickets Get Fewer Discounts
China's civil aviation administration has begun to tighten control over air tickets, leaving passengers unlikely to get discounted air tickets for major air routes. In the case of the Beijing-Shanghai route, passengers have had to pay the 970 yuan (US$117) price in full since the beginning of April, whereas there were discounts of between 40 and 60 per cent during the first quarter of the year. The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) was behind the campaign. Li Jun, the admi

Chinese Mourn The Dead In New Fashions
Zhao Xiaqiu, 66, a professor with the People's University of China, together with her husband, placed before her mother's portrait a bunch of yellow chrysanthemums on this rainy Friday.

Zhao said that when her mother died five years ago, they dropped an urn containing her mother's ashes into the sea and some earth from her garden.

"My brother in Taiwan and our third generation studying abroad have prompted such a decision," she said. "The sea will unite us and mother no matter wher

More funds raised for renovation of Yellow Emperor's mausoleum
Donations from home and abroad for the renovation of the Mausoleum of Huangdi (or the Yellow Emperor), the legendary founder of the Chinese nation, increased by 9 million yuan (about US$1.08 million dollars) at a ceremony held Thursday, bringing the total donation to 70 million yuan.

Renovation of the mausoleum started in 1992. To date, the first- phase project has been completed, while work on the second phase is still under way. The total cost for the two-phase project is expected to be

Go for Cruising
The first five-star luxury cruise boat in China, Jiari (Holiday) is a floating hotel of romance and comfort.

The vessel, which is making it possible for Shenzhen residents to feel the sea wind in their hair and enjoy the raw beauty of the sea at night, is expected to attract tourists from beyond Shenzhen.

Guestrooms ranging from standard cabins to those with sea views, and even presidential suites, can handle more than 400 passengers. All the guestrooms are finished to the standard

Beijing launches campaign to curb air pollution
Beijing recently launched a nine-month campaign to rid the city of air pollution.

The main tasks include bringing suspended particles under control and reducing discharge of contaminants by a big margin, according to sources from the Municipal Bureau of Environmental Protection.

It is expected that 55 per cent of days this year will reach Grade-2 on the air pollution index or better than the standard, five percentage points higher than last year.

By the end of October, Beiji

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